Ensemble Contraste

CHAMBER MUSIC

A Christmas Carol: A Musical Tale after Charles Dickens

The unifying tradition of Christmas, as we know it today, owes much to a masterpiece of English literature which had the effect of a social bomb when it was published in 1843: "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.

Presented in the form of a deceptively simple tale, it questions Victorian society, which at the time was mired in a narrow puritanism that was unfavourable to the lower castes. Like Victor Hugo, who was active across the Channel at the same time, Charles Dickens intended to place his art in society, in the service of those forgotten by the system, and his work can even be considered to have saved and reinstated Christmas holidays, which were threatened by the pre-industrial era, whose dazzling voracity left little room for the excluded. The traditional songs associated with this unifying moment were legion, stemming from a long-standing religious custom, and many composers and artists set their sights on the ever-renewed magic of what has been called the "spirit of Christmas" and which will never fade.

The Ensemble Contraste intends to make these "Christmas Carols" resonate, whose heritage continues in the great Anglo-Saxon migratory movements, and in particular on the American continent, which has taken hold of this musical and spiritual moment to create a great tradition. Thus, starting with an adaptation of Dickens' tale (whose format could lend itself to long-term pedagogical and collaborative work with schools), Ensemble Contraste will associate, thanks to the voice of an actor, the truculent characters who evolve in it, with music that will take us through the ages, starting with English religious songs, to Gospel, but also a selection of so-called classical music.

Musical tale from 6 to 77 years old (and more!)

Cast:

Émilie Hedou ou Marion Rampal, singing
Igor Bouin, reciting & singing
Arnaud Thorette, artistic direction, violin & viola
Pascal Mabit, saxophone
Johan Farjot, musical direction & piano

Text adaptation: Thomas Cannariato
Musical arrangements: Johan Farjot
Artistic director: Arnaud Thorette

Program:

The story tells in words and music the eventful night of December 24 that old Ebenezer Scrooge will experience.